Combined frog and switch for overhead trolleys.



H. CRIST.

COMBINED FROG AND SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD TROLLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1915.

1,1 60,1 42. Patentd Nov. 16, 1915.

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H. CRIST.

COMBINED FROG AND SWITCH ron OVERHEAD THOLLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. I915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HARRY CRIST, OF SCALP LEVEL, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED FROG AND SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD TRQLLEYS.

Application filed May 15, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY CRIs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scalp Level, in thecounty of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Combined Frog and Switch for Overhead Trolleys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which .it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a combined frog and switch for overhead trolleys, particularly adapted for trolleys in mines and the like, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this nature whereby one switch line or another may be cut out of the circuit while repairing, without disturbing the operation of the main line and vice versa, thereby savlng considerable time, and labor and expense.

Heretofore, when there is any trouble with the trolley line, particularly in mines and the like, the entire trolley line is put out of service, which necessitates the stopping of the complete operation of the mine, the workmen or miners standing idle and the cars stop running. Therefore, by the provision of the present invention these disadvantages are overcome, by reason of the fact that ust so soon as the trouble of certain section of the trolley line is located, this particular section is cut out of service, without disturbing the remaining part of the trolley line.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the combined trolley frog and switch. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a top plan view partly in section. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main body of the frog, which comprises a central web 2 of conducting material, which branches or merges into two branch webs 3 and 4. Extending laterally and downwardly from opposite sides of the central web are guard webs 5 and 6. The guard 5 merges into an angular extension guard 7 upon one side of the branch-web 4,- whereas Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 28,461.

the guard 6 is long enough to extend upon one side of the branch web 3. The central web 2 is provided with elongated tapering sleeves 8 and 9, through which a trolley wire 10 extends, there being a set screw 11 for holding the wires securely in place. These sleeves 8 and 9 are tapered at both ends, so as not to interfere with the proper engagement of the trolley wheel (not shown) with the trolley wire. The lower edges of the branch webs 3 and 4 are provided with the usual sleeves 11 and 12, in which the short sections of trolley wires 13 and 14 are secured in any suitablemanner in order to prevent their displacement.

The sleeves 11 and 12, when manufacturing the combined frog and switch construction, as well as the other similar sleeves may be considerably smaller than shown. In other words, almost as small as the wires which extend through the sleeves, and furthermore, the opposite ends of such sleeves may graduallytaper or merge oil into the wires, thereby reducing all irregulatities in the main and branch wires to a minimum.

The trolley wires 15 and 16 are secured in the sleeves 17 (whichare similar to the sleeve 8.) of the conductors 18 and 19, by means of the set screws 20 and 21. The end portions of the wires or trolleys-15 and 16 are secured in the usual manner in the sleeves 21 and 22, there being gaps between the trolley wires 15 and 13, and the trolley wires 16 and 14. The connectors 23 and 24 (which are constructed of some suitable insulating or nonconductive material, such as wood or the like) connect the conductors 18 and 19 to the branch webs. These connectors engage the inner or adjacent faces of the branch webs and the conductors, there being suitable rivets, bolts or the like 25 to secure said connectors to said branch webs and the conductors. By these connectors, the conductors are insulated from the branch webs. However, pivoted to the outer faces of said branch webs in ears 26 and 27 are switch blades 28 and 29 having suitable handles 30,

and are designed to engage between the terminals 31 of said conductors, that is, when the trolley system of a mine or the like is in running condition, so as toelectrically connect the trolley wires 15 and 16 with the wire 10. Therefore it will be observed, that by the switch blade, the gaps between the conductors and the branch webs are electrically bridged.

In order that the trolley wheel (not shown) may run smoothly upon the trolley wire 16 or the wire 15, that is, in passing the gap between the wires 12 and 16, and the wires 13 and 15, plates 33 and 34 areriveted or otherwise secured at 35 to the switch blades 28 and 29. These plates 33 and 3% are angular in cross section and extend down and underlie those portions of the insulating connectors between the conductors and the branch webs and formed into beads alined with the trolley wires 15 and 13, and 16 and 14, which beads are designated by the numerals 3G and 37. These beads constitute means so that the trolley wheel may run smoothly from the trolley wires 15 and 16, to the wires 13 and 14:. However, if there is any trouble, with either the wire 15 or 16, one switch blade or the other may be thrown out of'engagement with its respective ter- Extending laterally from the upper portion of the outer faces of the guards are eyes 4:2, to WlllCll suitable guide wires (not shown) may be connected, to hold the combined frog and switch steadily in position.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is -1. A trolley frog and switch combined comprising the frog body having a central alined with the branch webs, insulating connectors connecting the conductors to' the branch webs, trolley wires carried by the central web and the branch webs and the conductors, and switch blades electrically 7' bridging the insulating connectors, thereby electrically connecting the conductors and the branch webs, the wires of the conductors and the branch webs having gaps between their ends, plates carried by the'switch blades having means for electrically bridging the gaps, and guards extending laterally and downwardly from the central and branch webs. v I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY CRIST.

Witnesses: J. WARD HILE, M. C. YODER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

